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July 1, 2012

Filthy Review - Crack Whore

Crack Whore (2012)

Review by Jude Felton

Ok, let’s cut right through all the crap here. When a
movie is called Crack Whore you don’t go into it expecting high art, as that
would be just foolish. Instead, you need to get your mind down in the gutter,
actually probably a bit lower than that. Should I mention that the film comes
from Fart House Productions? Ah, so you are getting the picture now. Wunderbar,
I shall proceed.

Director Lance Polland, whose previous movies I will
admit to not having seen, takes the viewer on a violent, ultra-sleazy trip into
a hot and sweaty world where folk named Cletus and Bubba Ray frequent. It’s
offensive and brash, and not to mention very funny in places, as he takes us
into his own version of the rape/revenge flick.

In Crack Whore we meet Honey, who is the crack whore of
the title, a former actress-turned-hooker, who is making her way to Denver, for
some reason. Along the way she ends up hooking up with Bubba Ray and his
equally obnoxious friends and, as a way of supporting her habit, decides to
party on down with them. Yeah, well things don’t go quite that well for Honey
as the boys, who are all hopped up on coke, take things too far.

Now, it’s all very nasty stuff, but not very graphic I
should add. Sure, there is some gore, there’s a ton of naked flesh and the
language is choice. But in terms of the actual rape, because this is a
rape/revenge flick, it is actually not too graphic. Most of it is filmed from
Honey’s point of view, which does make it uncomfortable viewing, especially
with the comedic element thrown in. Yes, there is a lot of comedy thrown in
here, which is either going to offend the hell out of you, or you are going to
love.

Mixing comedy into this sub-genre isn’t really something
I saw coming, or even felt the need for, but you do have the revenge side to
follow. And this is where I was a bit let down by. There’s the initial set-up,
then far too much focus on the hillbillies and then when we finally get to the
revenge aspect it is violent, but all too brief. It is of my opinion that if
you are going to make a rape/revenge flick, that the revenge needs to be
fucking savage. Because, no matter how violent the revenge is it will not ever
get close to the act of rape, so you better give it your best shot.

With all that being said, Crack Whore is a well put
together flick. It’s quite obviously a low budget affair, but it well made. The
humor does work, outside of the rape scene, more often than not, and it is
filled with overtly repulsive characters who you will laugh at even though they
disgust you.

On a personal level I am a fan of movies such as I Spit
on Your Grave and Ms.45, because they are harsh, ultra-violent and the revenge
is crushing, as it should be. The tone of those movies mirrors the action on
screen. With Crack Whore, Polland breaks those conventions, which itself is a
brave move, and delivers a movie that is almost as uncomfortable to watch, by
simply adding the comedy.

Would I recommend Crack Whore? Well, put it this way, if
you like the idea of watching a movie called Crack Whore, chances are you will
probably dig it. If the title puts you off, you probably won’t. I don’t see
there being any middle ground on this movie, at all.